17 For the arms H2220 of the wicked H7563 shall be broken: H7665 but the LORD H3068 upholdeth H5564 the righteous. H6662
The LORD H3068 upholdeth H5564 all that fall, H5307 and raiseth up H2210 all those that be bowed down. H3721
Behold my servant, H5650 whom I uphold; H8551 mine elect, H972 in whom my soul H5315 delighteth; H7521 I have put H5414 my spirit H7307 upon him: he shall bring forth H3318 judgment H4941 to the Gentiles. H1471
Though he fall, H5307 he shall not be utterly cast down: H2904 for the LORD H3068 upholdeth H5564 him with his hand. H3027
Restore H7725 unto me the joy H8342 of thy salvation; H3468 and uphold H5564 me with thy free H5081 spirit. H7307
Now G1161 unto him that is able G1410 to keep G5442 you G5209 G846 from falling, G679 and G2532 to present G2476 you faultless G299 before the presence G2714 of his G846 glory G1391 with G1722 exceeding joy, G20
Son H1121 of man, H120 I have broken H7665 the arm H2220 of Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt; H4714 and, lo, it shall not be bound up H2280 to be healed, H7499 H5414 to put H7760 a roller H2848 to bind H2280 it, to make it strong H2388 to hold H8610 the sword. H2719 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 Behold, I am against Pharaoh H6547 king H4428 of Egypt, H4714 and will break H7665 his arms, H2220 the strong, H2389 and that which was broken; H7665 and I will cause the sword H2719 to fall H5307 out of his hand. H3027 And I will scatter H6327 the Egyptians H4714 among the nations, H1471 and will disperse H2219 them through the countries. H776 And I will strengthen H2388 the arms H2220 of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and put H5414 my sword H2719 in his hand: H3027 but I will break H7665 Pharaoh's H6547 arms, H2220 and he shall groan H5008 before H6440 him with the groanings H5009 of a deadly wounded H2491 man. But I will strengthen H2388 the arms H2220 of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and the arms H2220 of Pharaoh H6547 shall fall down; H5307 and they shall know H3045 that I am the LORD, H3068 when I shall put H5414 my sword H2719 into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Babylon, H894 and he shall stretch it out H5186 upon the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 37
Commentary on Psalms 37 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 37
Ps 37:1-40. A composed and uniform trust in God and a constant course of integrity are urged in view of the blessedness of the truly pious, contrasted in various aspects with the final ruin of the wicked. Thus the wisdom and justice of God's providence are vindicated, and its seeming inequalities, which excite the cavils of the wicked and the distrust of the pious, are explained. David's personal history abundantly illustrates the Psalm.
1, 2. The general sentiment of the whole Psalm is expressed. The righteous need not be vexed by the prosperity of the wicked; for it is transient, and their destiny undesirable.
3. Trust—sure of safety.
shalt thou dwell—or, "dwell thou"; repose quietly.
verily … fed—or, "feed on truth," God's promise (Ps 36:5; compare Ho 12:1).
4. desires—(Ps 20:5; 21:2), what is lawful and right, really good (Ps 84:11).
5. Commit thy way—(Pr 16:3). Works—what you have to do and cannot set forth as a burden.
trust … in him—literally, "on Him." He will do what you cannot (compare Ps 22:8; 31:6). He will not suffer your character to remain under suspicion.
7, 8. Rest in—literally, "Be silent to the Lord."
and wait—Be submissive—avoid petulance and murmurings, anger and rash doing.
9. Two reasons: The prosperity of the wicked is short; and the pious, by humble trust, will secure all covenant blessing, denoted here by "inherit the earth" (compare Ps 25:13).
10, 11. shall not be—literally, "is not"—is not to be found.
11. peace—includes prosperity.
12. gnasheth … teeth—in beastly rage.
13. (Compare Ps 2:4).
seeth—knows certainly.
his day—of punishment, long delayed, shall yet come (Heb 10:37).
14, 15. sword, and … bow—for any instruments of violence.
slay—literally, "slaughter" (1Sa 25:11).
poor and needy—God's people (Ps 10:17; 12:5). The punishment of the wicked as drawn on themselves—often mentioned (compare Ps 7:15, 16; 35:8).
16. riches—literally, "noise and tumult," as incidental to much wealth (compare Ps 39:6). Thus the contrast with the "little" of one man is more vivid.
17. Even the members of the body needed to hold weapons are destroyed.
18, 19. God, who knows His people's changes, provides against evil and supplies all their need.
20. While the wicked, however mighty, are destroyed, and that utterly, as smoke which vanishes and leaves no trace.
21, 22. payeth not—not able; having grown poor (compare De 15:7). Ability of the one and inability of the other do not exclude moral dispositions. God's blessing or cursing makes the difference.
22. cut off—opposed to "inherit the earth" (compare Le 7:20, 21).
23, 24. steps—way, or, "course of life"; as ordered by God, failures will not be permanent.
26. his seed is blessed—literally, "for a blessing" (Ge 12:2; Ps 21:6). This position is still true as the rule of God's economy (1Ti 4:8; 6:6).
27-29. The exhortation is sustained by the assurance of God's essential rectitude in that providential government which provides perpetual blessings for the good, and perpetual misery for the wicked.
30, 31. The righteous described as to the elements of character, thought, word, and action.
31. steps—or, "goings"—for conduct which is unwavering (Ps 18:36).
32, 33. The devices of the wicked against the good fail because God acquits them.
34. On the contrary, the good are not only blessed, but made to see the ruin of their foes.
35, 36. of which a picture is given, under the figure of a flourishing tree (compare Margin), which soon withers.
36. he was not—(Compare Ps 37:10).
37. By "the end" is meant reward (Pr 23:18; 24:14), or expectation of success, as in Ps 37:38, which describes the end of the wicked in contrast, and that is cut off (compare Ps 73:17).
38. together—at once; entirely (Ps 4:8).
39, 40. strength—(Ps 27:1; 28:8).
trouble—straits (Ps 9:9; 10:1). In trust and quietness is the salvation of the pious from all foes and all their devices.